Almack's was the name formerly given to certain assembly-rooms in King Street, St James', London, derived from Almack, a tavern-keeper, by whom they were built, and whose real name is said to have been McCall; afterwards they were called Williss Rooms. They were first opened about 1770, and became famous for the extreme exclusiveness displayed by the lady patronesses in regard to the admission of applicants for tickets to the balls held here - only those of the most assured social standing being admitted. Research Almack's
The Order of St James of Compostella was an order of Spanish knights formed in the 12th century to protect the Christian pilgrims who flocked in vast numbers to Santiago-de-Compostella, where the relics of St James were preserved. In time they attained great wealth, thereby exciting the jealousy of the crown, which succeeded in securing the grand-mastership in 1522, whereupon the order rapidly declined. Research Order of St James of Compostella
St James' Gazette was an anti-radical evening newspaper first published in May 1880 at a price of 2d. It was founded by Frederick Greenwood as a Conservative supporting rival to the Pall Mall Gazette. In January 1882 the price was dropped to 1d and in 1905 it amalgamated with the Evening Standard. Research St. James' Gazette
The Squire was a famous drama of rural life by Arthur Pinero. It was first produced on December the 29th 1881 at the St James' Theatre, London, where it subsequently ran for 170 performances. Research The Squire
The King Charles Spaniel or English Toy Spaniel as it is known in the USA is a breed of Spaniel related to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, but smaller at twenty-five centimetres tall. The breed are so named from their reputed popularity with King Charles II who used to personally exercise his pets in London's St James Park. They are friendly and adaptable dogs, but need careful grooming. Research King Charles Spaniel
Charles King was a policeconstable working for Scotland Yard in C Division (St James', London) when in 1855 he was convicted for larceny and receiving - the first Metropolitan policeman convicted of serious criminal corruption. King organised and trained gangs of young boys as pick-pockets, showed them likely targets and kept watch while they stole for him. After conviction King was deported for 14 years. Research Charles King
Henry Duff Traill was an English writer and journalist. He was born in 1842 at Blackheath and died in 1900. Educated at the Merchant Taylors' School and St John's College, Oxford, he became a barrister and in 1871 a civil servant and a part time journalist. He was the first editor of 'Literature' and wrote biographies of Coleridge, Sterne, William III, Shaftsbury, Strafford, Lord Salisbury, Lord Cromer and Sir John Franklin as well as writing numerous letters to the Pall Mall Gazette, St James' Gazette, Saturday Review and the Daily Telegraph. Research Henry Traill
Herod Agrippa I was a Jewish politician. He was the son of Aristobulus by Berenice, daughter of Herod the Great. From his attachment to Caligula he was imprisoned by Tiberius, but on the accession of Caligula in 37 he received the government of part of Palestine, and latterly all the dominions of Herod the Great. To please the Jews, with whom his rule was very popular, he caused St James to be put to death, and imprisoned St Peter. Research Herod Agrippa I
John Adams was an American politician. He was born in 1735 at Braintree (now Quincy) Massachusetts and died in 1826. He was educated at Harvard University, and adopted the law as a profession. His attention was directed to politics by the question as to the right of the English parliament to tax the colonies, and in 1765 he published some essays strongly opposed to
the claims of the mother country. As a member of the new American congress in 1774, 1775, and 1776 he was strenuous in his opposition to the home government, and in organizing the various departments of the colonial government. On 13th May, 1776, he seconded the motion for a declaration of independence proposed by Lee of Virginia, and was appointed a member of committee to draw it up. The declaration was actually drawn up by Jefferson, but it was John Adams who fought it through congress.
In 1778 he went to France on a special mission, but soon came back and again returned, and for nine years resided abroad as representative of his country in France; Holland, and England. After taking part in the peace negotiations he was appointed, in 1785, the first ambassador of the United States to the court of St James. He was recalled in 1788, and the following-year elected vice-president of the republic under George Washington. In 1792 he was re-elected vice-president, and at the following election in 1797 he became president in succession to George Washington. The commonwealth was then divided into two parties, the federalists, who favoured aristocratic and were suspected of monarchic views, and the republicans. Adams adhered to the former party, with which his views of government had always been in accordance, but the real leader of the party was Alexander Hamilton, with whom John Adams did not agree, and who tried to prevent his election. John Adams was a leader in the movement for independence an his presidency was marked by rivalry with fellow-Federalist Alexander Hamilton, controversy over government measures taken to curb political opposition, and a crisis in American relations with France.
His term of office proved a stormy one, which broke up and dissolved the federalist party. His re-election in 1801 was again opposed by the efforts of Alexander Hamilton, which ended in effecting the return of the republican candidate Jefferson. Thus it happened that when John Adams retired from office his influence and popularity with both parties were at an end, and he sunk at once into the obscurity of private life. He had the consolation, however, of living to see his son president. He died on the 4th of July, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and on the same day as Jefferson. His works were ably edited by his grandson Charles Francis Adams.
John Couch Adams was a British astronomer. He was born in 1819 and died in 1892. He studied at Cambridge, and was senior wrangler in 1843. His investigations into the irregularities in the motion of the planetUranus led him to the conclusion that they must be caused by another more distant planet, and the results of his labours were communicated in September and October, 1845, to Professor Challis and Airy the astronomer royal. The French astronomer Leverrier had by this time been engaged in the same line of research, and had come to substantially the same results, which, being published in 1846, led to the actual discovery of the planetNeptune by Galle of Berlin. In 1858 John Adams was appointed Lowndean professor of astronomy and geometry at Cambridge.
John Bodkin Adams was an English physician and alleged murderer. He was born in 1899 and died in 1983. In 1957 he was tried for the murder of an elderly patient who died in suspicious circumstances shortly after making Dr Adams a beneficiary in her will. Although he was acquitted, most students of the case believe the trial was a miscarriage of justice, and his guilt proven. Further investigations suggest that at least nine elderly ladies were poisoned by Dr Adams for financial gain. Research John Adams
Thomas Truxtun was an American sailor. He was born in 1755 and died in 1822. He was made lieutenant of the privateer Congress in 1776. In 1777 he commanded the Independence and captured three large ships. In 1781 he commanded the St James, with which he disabled a superior British vessel. In 1798 he was placed in command of the Constellation, and commanded a squadron to protect American commerce in the West Indies. In 1799 he captured the French frigate L'Insurgente after a severe engagement, and in 1800 he gained a victory over the French frigate La Vengeance. Research Thomas Truxtun
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Almack's
